Preserving Benton County's Heritage Since 1949
Explore records, photographs, and stories from the people and places that shaped our community.
Search Our DatabaseWelcome to the Benton County Historical Society & Museum
Preserving the stories, artifacts, and heritage of Benton County, Minnesota since 1949.
Upcoming Event
Stories Among the Stones: A Lantern Tour of the Benton County Cemetery — Part II
October 15, 2026 • 5:30 PM • Benton County Cemetery
Join us for Part II of our popular lantern tour of the Benton County Cemetery — uncovering stories of those who came before us, including victims of the 1886 Cyclone and early settlers. Post-tour social hour with refreshments and a viewing of our authentic 1880s funeral coach.
Sauk Rapids, Benton Co., Minn.
📅 Today in History
United States
• 1580 Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe
• 1957 Musical "West Side Story," opens on Broadway
Minnesota
• Minnesota’s rivers and streams stretch about 69,200 miles in total.
• About 4,780 square miles of Minnesota are inland water.
Benton County
• In the 1901 county seat election, Foley won 1,284 votes to Sauk Rapids’ 788.
• William A. Aitkin served as chairman of Benton County’s first board of commissioners.
📷 Picture of the Day
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